The prospect of a cup final at the new St Mary's Stadium, Southampton grew ever stronger on Tuesday night after Aldershot's victory over Farnborough that puts them in the quarter-finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup.

The game was as lively as the scoreline suggests – full of goals and incident – and Aldershot manager George Borg was full of praise for both sides.

"The tackling was hard, but fair and there was no real nastiness in the game.

"It was very entertaining and, fair dues to Farnborough, they played their part in an excellent match.

"Graham Westley put out a very strong, experienced side and it just goes to show that when we play well, we are a match for anyone.

"There's no better feeling that to beat your local rivals."

Some superb goals were scored and referee Darren Spicer, while keeping firm control on proceedings, always allowed the play to flow.

Most of the 1,673 spectators will have felt that a remarkable four-minute sequence in the second half was alone worth the entrance money.

During that time, both teams scored and Farnborough goalkeeper Darren Bonfield was injured in a freakish incident.

An own goal by Tony Taggart had just restored Aldershot's lead.

Hardly had play restarted, when a beefy clearance from his own half by Ryan Kirby threatened to embarrass Bonfield who had strayed far off his line. The panic on the goalkeeper's face was clearly visible as he back-pedalled desperately and the ball seemed to hang in the air for an age before bouncing gently off the crossbar.

It was the stuff of nightmares for Bonfield who then had to scramble back out to intercept the loose ball as Grant Payne charged in for Aldershot. The 'keeper just got there and his clearance ricocheted off the Shots striker for a goal-kick.

But the hapless Bonfield had sprained his wrist in the mayhem and had to be replaced by former professional Graham Benstead, Boro's goalkeeping coach.

Farnborough, fielding half the side who had drawn 1-1 at Doncaster on Saturday, had started the cup-tie like a train and their extra pace and passing ability quickly had Aldershot on the back foot.

With only 18 minutes gone, Chris Piper's darting run was ended by Ollie Adedeji's clumsy challenge and Rocky Baptiste converted the penalty with ease.

But the goal had a positive effect on Aldershot who raised their own tempo, competing fiercely in midfield to allow Boro much less time on the ball.

A double-whammy – goals in the 28th and 30th minutes – put all the pressure on the Conference side.

The outstanding Mark Graham deceived Boro's seasoned defenders with a delicate chipped cross and Mark Watson jumped to equalise with a powerful header.

Then Grant Payne's nimble footwork induced Nathan Bunce to concede a free-kick on the edge of the area – food and drink for Lee Protheroe who rifled his shot over the wall and into the top right-hand corner.

Payne and Protheroe had further chances to put the match beyond Farnborough before half-time.

As it was, the visitors were thrown a lifeline by Jason Chewins who, 12 minutes into the second half, allowed Taggart's cross to drop over his head and Dean Green headed the simplest of goals.

This was the start of that crazy four minutes. First, Bonfield failed to deal with Graham's sharply inswinging corner and Taggart planted the ball in his own net.

A rather pathetic ground invasion greeted this goal, followed by Kirby almost scoring the mother of all fluke goals.

Benstead showed his enduring skills with a full-length parry to deny Protheroe, but, on 75 minutes, the veteran goalkeeper could do nothing when Payne skilfully controlled another teasing cross from Graham and stepped inside his marker to drill the ball into the far corner.

Both sides rang the changes late on and the redoubtable Lennie Piper arrived to deliver an unerring free-kick for an unmarked Baptiste to head home Farnborough's third goal.

But this only came in injury time. There was no doubt that Aldershot were worthy victors on the night.

Aldershot: Howells, Coll, Chewins, Kirby, Adedeji (Townley 42 mins), Bentley (Gell 89 mins), Graham, Harford, Payne, Watson (Forrester 89 mins), Protheroe. Subs (not used) Nutter, Reid.

Farnborough: Bonfield (Benstead 61 mins), Gregory, Taggart, O'Shea, Bunce, Harper, Dublin (L Piper 92 mins), Green, Baptiste, De Souza (Charles 74 mins), C Piper. Subs (not used) Annon, Bennetts. Booked: Dublin, Gregory.

Attendance: 1,673.

Referee: Darren Spicer